Organic Cotton Facts

Of all organic fibers, organic cotton is one of the most popular.

What is “organic cotton”?
Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Third-party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production.

How much organic cotton is grown globally?
According to Organic Exchange, global production of organic cotton increased by 53 percent from 2005/2006 to 2006/2007; global organic cotton sales are projected to skyrocket from $583 million in 2005 to $2.6 billion by the end of 2008. The Organic Exchange Organic Farm and Fiber Report 2007 reported 265,517 bales of organic cotton produced in 24 countries. Based on the Organic Trade Association’s organic cotton bale 2006 totals in this report, U.S. production makes up 3.06% of global organic cotton production.

Turkey, India, China, Syria, Peru, Uganda, Tanzania, Isreal, the United States, and Pakistan are the top ten organic cotton producing countries in the world, according to Organic Exchange.

How much organic cotton is grown in the U.S.?
Based on OTA’s 2006 survey of U.S. organic cotton producers in six states, farmers planted 5,971 acres of organic cotton and harvested 5,811 acres in 2006. Harvested acreage totaled 5,212 acres of organic upland cotton and 599 acres of organic pima cotton.

MORE @ Organic Trade Association

Sustainable Cotton

Sustainable Cotton encompasses biologically-based, IPM, and organic farming practices in the production, manufacturing and use of cotton. The Sustainable Cotton Project’s grower programs help move farmers through the changeover from chemically-dependent to more biological sound approaches. Composted manures and cover crops replace synthetic fertilizers; innovative weeding strategies are used instead of herbicides; beneficial insects and trap crops control insect pests; and alternatives to toxic defoliants prepare plants for harvest.

The ultimate goal of “sustainable cotton” is to move sustainable production, manufacturing and use practices throughout the cotton value chain in order to create a healthy and profitable industry for growers, their communities, manufacturers, retailers and users of all cotton products.

MORE @ Sustainable Cotton Project